In this image released by ABC, ABC News anchor Charles Gibson talks to Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska in an interview, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. The first excerpts will air Thursday on "World News with Charles Gibson" and "Nightline." On Friday, portions of the interview will air on "Good Morning America," "World News," "Nightline" and a special one-hour "20/20." (AP Photo/ABC, Donna Svennik) ** NO SALES ** ABC News via Associated Press

In this image released by ABC, ABC News anchor Charles Gibson talks to Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska in an interview, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. The first excerpts will air Thursday on "World News with Charles Gibson" and "Nightline." On Friday, portions of the interview will air on "Good Morning America," "World News," "Nightline" and a special one-hour "20/20." (AP Photo/ABC, Donna Svennik) ** NO SALES ** ABC News via Associated Press

Gibson, too, tested by exclusive Palin interviews

Thursday's ABC News interview with Sarah Palin not only was a test of her media skills, but also of the reputation of ABC News anchor Charles Gibson.

No other nominee in memory for such high national office has spent a week under a "no interview" blanket, including such news-making vice-presidential candidates as Geraldine Ferraro and Dan Quayle.

In the fiercely competitive world of network news, bagging the exclusive interview with the foremost newsmaker of the moment is called "the get" and ABC got it — and is playing it big.

Palin's one-on-one meetings with Gibson will dominate the ABC airwaves for two days with segments scheduled to air on "World News," "Nightline," "Good Morning America" and a special edition of "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern time.

"World News" was based out of Fairbanks, Alaska, on Thursday and will originate from Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, on Friday.

In Thursday's "World News" segment, the focus was on international affairs.

Asking Palin a quick series of questions, Gibson took little opportunity to explore Palin's views in depth. He accepted largely at face value her responses, which didn't stray far from the positions of her running mate, John McCain.

While ABC News before the interview aired had trumpeted her response to a question about whether the U.S. might have to go to war with Russia if it invaded a NATO ally — her response was "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement" — the most awkward moment came when Gibson asked her if she supported the "Bush doctrine."

Palin paused, then asked Gibson which aspect of the Bush doctrine he meant.

It became clear that Palin didn't know that "Bush doctrine" is shorthand for the idea that it is acceptable for the U.S. to attack another country before that country has attacked the United States. It is perhaps the most debated aspect of the decision to invade Iraq, a country that hadn't attacked the U.S.

Gibson didn't call attention directly to Palin's lack of knowledge. Instead, he worked an explanation of the Bush doctrine into his next question.

ABC said the McCain-Palin campaign approached it about the interview this week and offered the exclusive series with Gibson, who also interviewed John McCain at the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn.

"There were no conditions — we can ask whatever we want," said ABC spokeswoman Cathie Levine.

McCain's campaign had kept Palin away from interviewers since her nomination, even on the Sunday morning talk-show circuit, complaining initial media coverage was intrusive.

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, told Fox News that Palin wouldn't be talking to reporters "until the point in time when she'll be treated with respect and deference."

"She's not scared to answer questions," Davis told Fox's Chris Wallace. "But you know what? We run our campaign, not the news media."

In Gibson, Palin faced a news veteran with deep Washington experience and one who has interviewed the last seven presidents. Gibson, 65, has been with ABC News since 1975.

But Gibson also was criticized for his handling, with colleague George Stephanopoulos, of the April debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, which many critics said focused on trivial issues.

Gibson's handling of the Palin interviews is sure to be closely examined as well.

"He needs to ask the questions that elicit a response that lets the people of America understand what would this woman do if she were leading the country," said Thomas Oppel, a political strategist from New Hampshire and president of All Points Communication.

"And he needs to ask questions that find out if she's up to that task. And if he doesn't, he's failed terribly and failed the country, too, because he's the only one, for a time anyway, who is able to get at that."

The McCain campaign unquestionably was careful to pick the best venue for Palin's first interview, said Charles Bierbauer, who covered five presidential campaigns for CNN.

"Of course they go shopping," said Bierbauer, now dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. "They ask themselves, 'Where do we get the best hearing for our message?'"

Sometimes that venue is the toughest one available, he said, pointing to the decision by Bill and Hillary Clinton to address philandering issues on CBS's "60 Minutes" with Steve Croft.

Getting Palin's first interview is a coup for ABC, one that all the networks would covet, Bierbauer said.

"Nobody's clamoring for a Joe Biden interview, are they?" he said. "But we know Joe Biden. So she's the hot story."

Gibson's first interview with Palin took place in Fairbanks before Thursday's "World News" broadcast. Gibson was scheduled for another session with Palin after delivering the evening news.

On Friday, Gibson is to interview her again, this time in Wasilla, ABC said.

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